Carousel.



J. BUFF.

CAROUSEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10. 1915.

1,219,913. Patented Mar.20,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. BUFF.

CAROUSEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 10, 1915.

Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1 1 v 4 I b JACOB RUFF, 0F UNION HILL, NEW JERSEY.

CAROUSEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

Application filed November 10, 1915. Serial No. 60,717.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JACOB Burr, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Union Hill, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Carousels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates'to thatclass of apparatus which is designed for the entertainment of children and commonly designated as a carousel, with the object in view of providing such a structure which is simple and light, and may be readily operated by one of the occupants.

Another object is to provide such a structure which may be erected without difficulty in almost any desired place, and without the necessity of making any substantial or especial provision therefor.

A further object is to provide such a structure in which the frame carrying the seats for the occupants may be rotated either clock-wise or anti-clock-wise, sothat the seats may be caused to revolve in either direction.

A still further object relates to certain improvements in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts whereby the foregoing and other objects may be effectively carried out.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying draw ings, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the complete apparatus,

Fig. 2 represents a top plan view thereof,

Fig. 3 representsan enlarged detail section taken in the plane of the line AA of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 4 represents a similar view taken in the plane of the line BB of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

The apparatus comprises a base plate 1 which may conveniently be composed of metal circular in form and webbed for strength, which base plate is adapted to rest upon and be secured to suitable floormg or the ground, according to the desire of the user.

Through the center of this plate 1 passes a vertically extending rod or tube 2 which is designed to constitute a vertical pivotal support for the rotating frame of the apparatus, and the upper end of wh1ch 1s secured to a ceiling, beam, or other pomt' ing the lower portion of the pivotal-support 2. The upper end of this sleeve 5 is also threaded into a flanged nipple 7,.which serves to support a rest plate 8 fitted upon the pivotal support 2. A largebevel gear 9 is also fitted upon the pivotal support 2 and lies upon the upper surface of the rest plate 8.

Bolts 10 serve to firmly unite the nipple 7, rest plate 8 and bevel gear 9.

The rotating frame comprises arms 11, 12, 13, 14;, which radiate atsubstantially 90 angle to each other from a hub 15. These arms may conveniently be composed of light wooden beams, such as are conventionally known as two by fours, and be secured in the hub 15 (which is preferably composed of metal, such as cast iron), by suitable bolts 16. On the outer end of the said arms are mounted seats 17, 18, 19, 2o.

A hollow thrust bearing 21 is fixed to the has a collar 24 screwed thereon, from which collar guys 25 radiate downwardly to the rms 11, 12, 13, 14, in order to form supports for the seats. I

The mechanism for rotating the apparatus includes a bevel pinion 26, which meshes with the gear 9 and is fixed against rotation upon a shaft 27. The inner end of the shaft 27 is mounted in a journal 28 located in the hub 15, while the outer end of the said shaft is supported in a bearing 29 carried by the cross brace 30, which extends from the seat 19 to the seat 20. The journal 28 has a cap 31 provided with a stem 32 slidably mounted in the hub 15, while a coil spring 33 surrounds the said stem 32 and abuts the cap 31 and hub 15 so as to normally hold the said cap at the limit of its downward movement, while permit-- ting a vertical yielding thereof. This arrangement provides a loose or yielding bearing for the shaft 27 at its inner end, thus permitting a slight lateral 1n vement thereof during the swaying of the seat carrying frame incident to its rotation.

The upper end of the shaft 27 has a short crank 3% fitted against rotation thereon, to the outer end of which crank is pivoted a pitman 35 which has its other end pivoted at one end of an operating lever 36, which is fulcrumed at 37 in the cross brace 30 and is provided, at its upper end, with a T-handle 38.

In order to guard against undue swaying of the seat carrying frame during its rotation, I secure, to the under side of the hub 15, yokes 39, four in number, in which are mounted rollers 40. These rollers are of such a size that, when the seat carrying frame is perfectly level, they will be slightly spaced from the rest plate 8, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, while, if the seat carrying frame acquires any considerable amount of sway during its movement, or tilts to any considerable degree from the horizontal, one or more of the said rollers 40 will bear upon the rest plate 8 and thus prevent further swaying or tilting of the said frame, as well. as relieving undue strain and wear upon the tubular upright 23.

A foot rest 4-1 may be bolted or otherwise secured to the cross brace 30 for the use of the occupant who is to actuate the rotating mechanism.

The operation of the apparatus will be obvious from the foregoing description, but it may be simply stated that the occupant of the seat 19 may brace his or her feet against the part ail and reciprocate the lever- 36 by means of the handle 38. This movement will serve to rotate the pinion 26, thereby causing the whole frame to rotate about the pivotal support 2.

It will be clear that the actuation of the Copies of this patent may be obtained for lever 36 may be started either by a pull or a push so as to rotate the frame in either direction, and that after the frame has been rotated for a while in one direction, it may be stopped and started in the reverse direction; thus serving to counteract any tend ency to dizziness which may be sensed by the occupants.

It will be understood that various changes may be resorted to in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence I do not intend to be limited to the specific details herein shown and described except as they may b set forth in the claims. I

\Vhat I claim is 7 1. Apparatus of the class described comprising a pivotal support, a seat carrying frame rotatably mounted thereon, mechanism for rotating the frame, a rest plate mounted below said frame, and rollers depending from the frame and spaced slightly from the rest plate for limiting the movement of the former toward the latter.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a pivotal support, a seat carrying frame 'rotatably mounted thereon, a gear fitted on said support, a shaft loosely journaled in said frame to permit lateral movement and carrying a pinion meshed with said gear, and mechanism for rotating the shaft.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a pivotal support, a seat carrying frame rotatably mounted thereon, a gear fitted on said support, a pinion meshed with said gear, a shaft engaging said pinion for rotating it, and a bearing for said shaft located in the frame adjacent said gear and provided with a yielding cap to permit local lateral movement of the shaft.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name, this first day of November 1915.

JACQB BUFI.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

